Price of a school assembly show in the 1950s

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Johnp
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Price of a school assembly show in the 1950s

Postby Johnp » January 24th, 2016, 5:11 pm

This may seem like a strange question, but I would like to know what a magician with a small magic show would be paid for a school assembly show in the 1950s. I have searched back issues of Genii and found no clues. We had such a show every year at my school in the late 50s. The magician had a station wagon with a trailer and no assistants. Any guesses would be appreciated. This is for a fictional piece that I have been working on for awhile.

Thanks,
John
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Joe Pecore
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Re: Price of a school assembly show in the 1950s

Postby Joe Pecore » January 24th, 2016, 9:39 pm

Johnp wrote:This may seem like a strange question, but I would like to know what a magician with a small magic show would be paid for a school assembly show in the 1950s. I have searched back issues of Genii and found no clues. We had such a show every year at my school in the late 50s. The magician had a station wagon with a trailer and no assistants. Any guesses would be appreciated. This is for a fictional piece that I have been working on for awhile.

Thanks,
John


No idea the years Bobo was performing, but in
Modern Coin Magic by J.B.Hobo (1952)

"He was also booked as 'The Great Bobo' at churches, schools and charity dates for his standard minimum fee of three dollars a show."
Last edited by Joe Pecore on January 24th, 2016, 9:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Chas Nigh
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Re: Price of a school assembly show in the 1950s

Postby Chas Nigh » January 24th, 2016, 9:55 pm

I have a question similar to the OP

There was a guy who worked my high school every year. One of his big tricks was producing silks from a chrome plated box with the extra load. Can anyone tell me his name? Thanks ahead of time.
This was also in the late 50s. I was guessing it was Leon.
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Joe Pecore
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Re: Price of a school assembly show in the 1950s

Postby Joe Pecore » January 24th, 2016, 10:10 pm

From Showmanship by Burling (Volta) Hull, Getting Your Act Booked
in the Linking Ring Feb 1955, page 38

"Most good school magi make from a low of $30 to a tops of around $100 as an average."
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Johnp
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Re: Price of a school assembly show in the 1950s

Postby Johnp » January 24th, 2016, 10:16 pm

Thanks, Joe. I was thinking it had to be close to $75 or so because many of the acts were booked through agencies who took a percentage.

John
Jack Shalom
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Re: Price of a school assembly show in the 1950s

Postby Jack Shalom » January 24th, 2016, 11:21 pm

Dick Oslund would be a good guy to ask.
observer
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Re: Price of a school assembly show in the 1950s

Postby observer » January 25th, 2016, 12:01 am

Joe Pecore wrote:From Showmanship by Burling (Volta) Hull, Getting Your Act Booked
in the Linking Ring Feb 1955, page 38

"Most good school magi make from a low of $30 to a tops of around $100 as an average."


= $250-$900 today's dollars.

(Roughly!)
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